Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 4:07 pm on November 30, 2019 Permalink  

  A Decision 

  With all the gloomy weather we have been having, I have made a decision.  We need some Christmas lights in the house.  Our Christmas tree last year didn’t make it into storage for another season.  Pre lit trees are nice until the bulbs burn out.  The factory fuses them right onto the branches and there is no taking them off for any replacements.

  Dennis and I had decided that this year, rather than a tree we would have Santa in the living room.  Well and good!  We still need some Christmas lights in that corner.

  Dennis put up the huge wreath on the garage last week.  We were amazed that the lights weren’t in too bad of a shape.  The wreath is very old.  Of course, it was a clearance item.  That was when Pamida was the go-to place here in town.  We have added several strings of lights to it as some decided not to work anymore.  Looking at the lit up wreath, makes me feel happy.  That is what made me decide that a few lights in the house over the Christmas season was needed.  I am not about to go outside in my slippers and stand in front of the wreath for feel good moments.  I want to do that inside our home.

  The hope is that the crappy weather has finally cleared itself.  Dennis called when he got to Jackson this morning for the trade show.  It was slow going as the snow, rain and sleet from last night did a number of the road surfaces.  It is now supper time and the wind has finally died down.  I do have supper planned and am not going to start it until I see the ole cowboy standing at the back door.  I don’t think the usual 45 minutes from Jackson to our home is going to be the usual this evening.

   
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  Noreen 5:44 pm on November 29, 2019 Permalink  

  Heavy Air 

  With so much humidity in the air, it couldn’t be determined if there was a mist in the air or not.  It did get warm enough that Dennis was able to move much of the frozen hunks of snow on the patio from having run the snow blower on the area after the dump of snow.  It wasn’t really blowing snow, it was building snow cone possibilities.

  Dennis went to Jackson this afternoon and set up for the trade gun show this weekend.  All 125 tables have been sold.  Fun times for the fellows.  This is the first trade show that Dennis is taking in for 2019.  

  Now that we have a shorter vehicle in the garage,  I spent some time doing organization.  Garages always are in need of some tidy, tidy.

  An update on Dennis’ highchair that he worked on.  The end result was that this little jewel was never meant to be anything more than a painted piece of furniture.  Multiple types of wood made for a reveal that was not the most positive.  One of the back slats could well have been from a peach crate.  Not to loose faith.  The highchair will have a happy outcome, as soon as I find a solution.  

  Weather is still bucking here, there, anywhere and everywhere.  Hmm.  Dennis knows that if the weather at Jackson, which is 45 miles from St. James, is not good at the end of the day, he will be staying over . . . somewhere.  My long time trucker no long takes any chances.

   
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  Noreen 5:11 pm on November 28, 2019 Permalink  

  A Ho-Ho Day 

  Dennis and I spent the day doing some Ho-Ho-Hoing.  Getting the home looking like it just might be Christmas around the corner.

  Getting Santa up out of the Sewing Studio took some doing.  One of my old surgical safety belts went around Santa’s tummy.  It did the trick and worked great.  Dennis on a basement step, one at a time going up with a heft and me giving a bit of a lift from down below.  Santa was ready for the living room.  This year Santa got glasses so as to see the best.

  Last year after Christmas we spent $10 at Hobby Lobby when they had 90% off of Christmas decorations.  We got our money’s worth for a Christmas bow.  It has been in the sewing studio waiting to make its appearance.  Today, Dennis shoveled off the ice from the front steps. The bow took both of us to lift it up onto the storm door.  It is a heavy duty bow.  With the awning giving it protection as well as the spruce bush on the northwest corner of the house, it will give a Christmas greeting to all who pass by.

  Dennis did get out and about today with the little red pickup.  The gas station gal said the roads were snow packed north of town.  She got into work and took it slow.  That would have been the best advice for anyone whether decorating for Christmas or traveling.

   
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  Noreen 4:05 pm on November 27, 2019 Permalink  

  Two Calls 

  We made two calls today, that in doing so, saddened us.  With the winter snows that have fallen and the forecast of strong winds tomorrow . . . it spelled less than good road surfaces for Thanksgiving.  Dennis and I were brave enough to make the phone calls to ensure the children wouldn’t be in harms way for several hours of family time.  We will have that family time another time. 

  Dennis and I have been on glazed-over blowing roads more times than we like to recount.  Kevin and Kersten had a situation several years ago when road slush pulled them off of the road and rolled them.  Jeremy, driving from Eden Prairie has commented several times how the highway from Mankato to St. James can be unforgiving with glaze when you least expect it. When the heart was in your throat and yet you can look back on it as an experience that brought no physical harm . . . whew!

  Yes, yes, I know!  Vehicles are heavier, good tires have good traction and our drivers have good defensive skills.  There is no guarantee for what is headed towards you with none of those three givens.

  Dennis had his ruler out on the protected patio area and the measurement was 8″ of the wet heavy snow.  With it being so wet, I am amazed it can drift across the our driveway that neighbor Randy blew out for us.  The three patio cats watched Randy and Dennis through the porch window with no indication of wanting to join them.  We’ve raised not only smart kids, but also smart cats.  

  Dennis and I will have a trimmed down version of Thanksgiving tomorrow and reflect upon all that we have thanks for in our aging lives . . . oh my gosh the list will take us into supper time.  I am going to hold off on getting out the sweet goodies that would would have been shared by the eight of us.  Sugary items won’t spoil anytime soon.  I learned from Lena . . . a cool storage spot is priceless for the special goodies. 

  So being the Mom that I am . . . my sadness turns to being a joyful and proud mom of my absent little tribe for tomorrow.  That good feeling goes as well for my partner in crime, Dennis, for being on board with me.

   
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  Noreen 4:18 pm on November 26, 2019 Permalink  

  A No Mind Day 

  If you don’t mine, it don’t matter.

  Change in the weather and the fingers, hands and the rest don’t want to work well.

  Taking a day off is not all bad.

  God willing tomorrow will be a better day.

   
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  Noreen 4:31 pm on November 25, 2019 Permalink  

  Watching 

  Everyone is watching the weather forecasts.  No matter what radio station or what television station is tuned in . . . they are all saying pretty much the same . . . not good.

  I have told my children if the weather is bad, if the roads are bad, if there is no clear window to allow them to leave their homes, spend several hours with us and then head home all in clear weather and good roads . . . please stay home.

  There was a Thanksgiving decades ago when it was Kevin driving from New Ulm, Carrie driving from the metro and me welcoming them in St. James.  It all began good but the snow moved in quickly.  Kevin was the first to leave at dusk.  Kevin called from New Ulm which is a 40 minute drive from St. James and urged Carrie to not start out to the metro as viability and the roads were treacherous.  It was too late, she had just left St. James to travel the hour and a half.  Both time frames for my kids were when the weather and roads were good.  I was on pins and needles until I got her phone call.  Both were home safe and sound.

  Life is too short to want family to be in harms way.  I would rather think about them, than read about them in the obits.  There can always be another time to gather.  There is no do-over.

  On a lighter note, I dug out leftover velvet from the Santa project.  The rich vibrant fabric is too good to leave unattended in storage.   Besides . . . it’s been paid for, let’s see what can be whipped up.  I am in my white on red phase.  Pulling out trim from the goody stash, buttons pulled off the Fairfax button tree . . . we may just pull off some Christmas trims.  Fun!

  Dennis is cleaning up the garage area where he worked on his old time highchair.  He is calling it . . . done.  For never ever having refinished anything made out of wood, let alone multi-layers of oil based paint that I am sure had lead in it . . . he did well.  Dennis wants to use a tack cloth to take off any dust before it comes into the sewing studio.  Did I forget to mention? The staining and polyurethane processes are all mine.  I have no problem with that.  That won’t be as hard on my hands and shoulders . . . and neck than all the work that Dennis put in bringing it to bare wood. 

  Another day, another . . . good day.

   
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  Noreen 4:07 pm on November 24, 2019 Permalink  

  Way Too Funny 

  Dennis has a huge amount of favored television programs to watch as he rocks away in the patio porch.  It could be a nature program, an old western movie or it could be The Pickers.  

  Dennis happened to catch an episode of The Pickers as they were going through an old machine shed somewhere in the southern states.  There was a huge pile of denim clothing that was crusty to say the least.  As it turned out a lot of the denims were Levi brand.  The pickers pounced on them and bought every item they could get their hands on if they had the red little tag on one of the back pockets that read Levi.  The second item to then look for in the inside was the printed old logo of a pair of Levis being pulled apart.

  Guess what!  Dennis had been wearing a pair just such a these.  The knees were just about worn through.  That pair went into the laundry immediately.  They were barely dry when Dennis was in my sewing room ironing them.  He had not had his hands operating an iron for as long as I have known him. Dennis is putting that pair of Levis away for posterity or when The Pickers come to this area.  Too funny.  Dennis does pay attention to items that peek his interests.

  Someday when our home is being cleaned out, there will be a pair of well worn jeans that most likely will be folded to precision with a label attached . . . “Do not throw away . . . contact The Pickers.”

  My ole 83 young cowboy keeps me on my toes 24/7.  May it be the case for a long time to come.

   
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  Noreen 4:40 pm on November 23, 2019 Permalink  

  Moral Support Needed 

  No matter what is tackled on Stauffer Avenue, moral support is always needed and appreciated.

  Dennis makes his appearance in the sewing studio quite often when I am plugging away at something.  Yesterday he asked how many of the eight point pinwheel quilt blocks I was planning on making.  I had always planned on 42 of the pinwheel blocks.  After adding sashing and borders, it would be a good sized double bed quilt.  

  Dennis knows that when I do laundry of the beds, I always rotate the quilt that is on each bed.  Wear and tear needs to be alternated.  Dennis’ suggestion was to made the quilt with 49 blocks, making the quilt square.  With the embroidery unit, than apply the small numbers one through four on each corner, making it easy to rotate the quilt in all four directions rather than two.  Hmm.  His moral support, questions and suggestions are cowboy wise.  As of this afternoon, I have 49 pinwheel blocks done and trimmed.  The rest of the project will take some time.

  I tend to stay out of the garage when Dennis has a project going.  When he needs help he asks for it.  It he wants my opinion, he asks for it.  In respect, I don’t budge in on what he is doing.  It’s not to say Dennis does not get moral support the entire time he is in the garage.  Snuggles and Harriet are right there lending all the support they possibly can.  Of his three cats, those two are the most hands on.  Honey Bunny can’t be bothered by the mundane goings on.  If Dennis gets out more supplies or materials for what he is working on, Snuggles and Harriet check it out.  It is enough to exhaust them.  Ya right! 

  We appreciated the warmer temps today, though is was a very gray day.  Maybe tomorrow the sun will show itself.

   
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  Noreen 6:09 pm on November 22, 2019 Permalink  

  It Didn’t Work 

  I don’t understand why it didn’t work.  When Dennis does it, it works 100% of the time.  I did it exactly as I have seen Dennis do it.  Hmm.

  I came up from the sewing studio at five.  Dennis was playing solitaire on the computer.  I sat down at the table and waited, and waited and waited.  Finally Dennis asked me what I was doing.  I said “It’s not working.”  “What are you talking about?” was his response.

  When Dennis sits down at the table at the same time of day that I was sitting at the table . . . it works.  A tasty supper is put down in front of him within a few minutes.  Hmm.

  Considering the delay, I still had chicken tenders and vegetables on the table in time to enjoy the 5:30 news.  I don’t foresee the meal routine changing any time soon.  That ship has sailed and I am quite sure it was my course that charted this particular situation quite some time ago.

   
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  Noreen 4:35 pm on November 21, 2019 Permalink  

  The Wind is Powerful 

  If it isn’t nailed down outside, the winds have had their way with it.  It began raining last night about 10:30.  At times it was a wind-powered, driving rain.  We were spared the snow that had been talked about.  That was fine with us.

  Dennis’ wood project is progressing.  He had mentioned this early morning that we were going to take the day off as he could feel his arms and shoulders have really been getting a workout.  Every size of sandpaper, every size of brass brushes . . . it’s all on the workbench in the garage.  

  I can usually see into the patio porch when Dennis is in his rocking chair when I look out of the east house window.  Hmm.  The rocking chair was empty.  I didn’t poke.  I left well enough alone.  I toddled down into the sewing studio to work with my quilt blocks.  

  What has happened to Dennis is much like what happens to me when I am in the thick of a sewing project . . . you can’t leave it alone.  When he came in for his Noon lunch I didn’t say a thing about taking the day off.  Dennis is content working at his own speed.  It’s a good thing.  By the look of his jeans, he has been hitting the sandpaper pretty hard.  Refinishing spindles are a challenge.  I can only imagine the coats of that good old oil-based paint that those spindles are hanging on to.

  My cell phone has kept me busy this afternoon.  Dennis’ nephew Brett has closed down his concrete business for the season.  Brett has begun getting into the mood for quilting.  In one of his conversations today, he commented that switching gears is like never having turned on a sewing machine before.  He’ll get into the swing of it before long. 

  When seasons change we keep pace with the changes.  Projects make for a good transition.  Why fight what you can’t change.  Minnesota winters have always kept us wondering what each day will bring.  Keeping busy makes the time go by fast.  Idle hands are the work of the devil and we mean to keep him at bay.  For us retired two here on Stauffer Avenue, time does go fast enough as it takes us longer to do what used to be done in a heartbeat.   

  Dennis comments often that he can’t figure out how some of those who are about our age never have anything to do.  Hmm.